The home of William and Hattie Raspberry once stood near this site. William, Hattie, their children, and extended family members settled in Cedar Rapids around 1880. Like many African Americans at the time, several Raspberry family members endured slavery and its forced family separations. After the Civil War, the Raspberrys managed to reunite with family and to purchase a family home that once stood here at 800 South 10th Street. Hattie was active in women’s clubs, community organizations, and the Bethel AME Church. William was prominent in political, community, and church groups and also advocated for labor unions and equal employment.
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Download this plaque (PDF format)
